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(Date) 
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^^ 



AUTHORIZATION. 



CHAP. 466, LAWS OF 1886. 

AN ACT to provide for designating the positions and movements of the troops- 
of the State of New York on the battlefield of Gettysburg. 

Section i. Daniel E. Sickles, Henry W. Slocum, Joseph B. Carr, Charles A. 
Richardson, and the adjutant-general of this State are hereby appointed com- 
missioners for the State of New York to determine the positions and move- 
ments, at the battle of Gettysburg, of the several military organizations of this 
State that took part in that battle, and to do such other acts relating thereto 
as may be hereafter required. 

§ 2. Said commissioners shall determine such positions and movements by 
means of such records, reports, maps and surveys as may be had, and by such 
other aids and means as they may judge necessary therefor; and they shall 
report their proceedings to the legislature at its next session, with such recom- 
mendations as they shall judge proper to secure the permanent marking of 
the movements and positions of such troops. 

§ 3. The sum of five thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be neces- 
sary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury, not otherwise 
appropriated, to defray the expenses of said commissioners in carrying out 
the provisions of this act. 

§ 4. In case of the resignation, refusal to serve, death or inability of either 
of said commissioners to perform the duties required, the Governor shall fill 
the vacancy by appointment. 



CHAP. 932, LAWS OF 1895. 

* * * For defraying the expenses of the final report of the commis- 
sioners appointed by and pursuant to chapter four hundred and sixty-six, Laws 
of one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, of their proceedings under said 
act, and all acts supplementary thereto, the sum of six thousand dollars, which 
report shall contain a representation of each monument erected by them, with 
a statement of its location and cost, and the dedication ceremonies, and also 
o brief history of each Neiv York regiment and battery that took part in the 
battle of Gettysburg as authenticated by official reports and records. * * *• 

2 



3u 



To his Excellency, the Governor of the State of New York : 

Sir : — Pursuant to the provisions of chapter 932, Laws of 1895, 
the New York Monuments Commission for the Battlefields of Gettys- 
burg and Chattanooga has the honor to submit herewith its 
final report on that part of the work relating to the Battlefield of 
Gettysburg. 

Yours obediently, 

DANIEL E. SICKLES, 

Chairman. 
New York, Dec. i, 1899 



NEW YORK 



AT 



GETTYSBURG 



WILLIAM F. FOX, Lieut.-CoL 107th N. Y. Vols. 

3 



AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



The following chronicle of events at the battle of Gettysburg is inserted here 
as introductory to the main body of the report. Something of the kind seemed 
necessary in recounting the services of the New York troops on that historic 
field, to show not only their participation in the fighting, but, also, the relation 
which their action bore to other and more general events as to time, order, and 
place. The movements of each New York regiment and battery during the bat- 
tle are fully described elsewhere in the historical sketches and addresses pub- 
lished in this report; but the bearing which their action had on other movements 
can be explained only in some connected narrative reciting the entire story of 
the battle, and in which the services of each command is told in its due 
connection. 

Another history of Gettysburg may seem superfluous and presumptions. 
But there were New York regiments and batteries in every corps, in every 
division except one, and in forty-six brigades of the Union army. They fought 
and fell on every portion of the field. 

Any fair statement of their participation in the general action involves a story 
of the entire battle. At the request of the Board, the author, who had already 
undertaken the work of editing the final report, reluctantly assumed this addi- 
tional task. 

This history of the battle — if it may be called a history — does not purport 
to be the story of an eye-witness, but is based on the official reports made at the 
time, together with some other authentic accounts which have passed unchal- 
lenged during the many years that have elapsed. 

But the official reports are not infallible. They are somewhat conflicting at 
times, and on each side there is a noticeable tendency to make scant mention of 
any misfortune or reverse that may have occurred ; and, although a full record 
of such event may be found in the report of the other side, it is apt to be accom- 
panied by exaggerations that make it worthless for historical purposes. This 
is especially the case in statements as to losses inflicted on an enemy or the 
number of prisoners captured. With a hope of reconciling discrepancies, and 
obtaining information where it was needed, the author has read carefully all of 
the voluminous literature, written on both sides, relating to the battle and its 
accompanying campaigns. 

Considerable difficulty was experienced in determining the order in which 
events occurred ; for the reports show a surprising variation in this respect. 
Some officers dififer three hours or more in their statements as to when certain 
mcidents happened, — when troops arrived on the ground, the hour when they 
went into action, or, when some position was carried or abandoned. But by 
harmonizing so far as practicable the contradictory statements, and retaining 
all that agreed, a schedule was finally evolved by which the various movements 
were accounted for, as to time and succession, without inconsistencies or con- 

5 



6' Author's Preface. 

tradictions. Fortunately, in some of the reports the officer, instead of using 
the word " about " in stating when the event took place, gives both the hour 
and the minute with exactness, which shows that he looked at his watch and 
noted it precisely. Such statements were accepted in preference to others. 
Reference is made to this matter here, because the various movements during 
the battle cannot be understood until the exact order in which the events 
occurred is definitely determined. 

In the course of his work the author has made frequent and protracted visits 
to the battlefield, where all the various movements, together with the official 
reports, have been carefully studied on the ground, a task which became difficult 
at times owing to the erroneous location of regimental monuments and inaccu- 
rate inscriptions. It has been his good fortune, also, to meet on the field, 
from year to year, participants in the battle from each army, men whose rank 
and connection with important events on the field enabled them to explain 
clearly much that hitherto was doubtful or misunderstood. Through the 
liberality of the Board of New York Commissioners, substantial assistance was 
rendered by furnishing everything available in the way of maps, histories, official 
documents, and transcripts from the records of the War Departments at Wash- 
ington and Albany. 

Ft may seem to some that the following narrative contains matter that does 
not necessarily pertain to the story of New York at Gettysburg. But when a 
State furnishes nearly one-third of an army, some discussion of the total strength 
becomes necessary to establish the proportion of troops thus furnished. When 
almost one-third of the killed are from that State, this heroic record will be 
better appreciated after an examination of the entire casualty lists. And when 
one-third or more of the corps, division, and brigade generals are froni one 
State, their participation, responsibility, and achievements can be fully under- 
stood and recognized only when the story is told in full, together with its legiti- 
mate deductions and conclusions. 

There is an unwritten law of literature that contemporaneous history must 
not be accepted as conclusive. Recognizing the justice of this decree the story 
has been conscientiously told, with no thought or care for the approbation of 
the present, but with a hope that the historian of the future may find something 
in its pages that will lighten his labors, and receive the indorsement of his pen. 

W. F. F. 



NEW YORK AT GETTYSBURG. 



This is the story of New York at Gettysburg; it is the story of what the men 
of New York did there. If, in the telling, there is little mention of other regi- 
ments, it is because such mention is outside the province of this narrative. 
Their gallant deeds will be better told by their own historians. 

Of the many States represented on this historic field, the Empire State, in 
proud fulfillment of its duty, furnished the most men and filled the most graves. 
More than one-fourth of the Union army marched there under the flags of the 
State of New York ; more than one-fourth of those who fell there followed those 
colors to their graves. 

The battle of Gettysburg has long been a fruitful theme in history. There 
yet remains the epic story of each State whose gallant sons fought on that field, 
not only for the perpetuity of the Nation, but for the honor and glory of their 
Commonwealth. 

THE FIRST DAY, 
Wednesday, July i, 1863. 

On June 30th the armies of Meade and Lee, each unaware of the other's 
movements, were moving towards Gettysburg. The Northern army was ap- 
proaching from the South ; the Southern army, from the Nortli. 

The collision at Gettysburg was unexpected. Lee had no cavalry in front of 
his leading division. Part of his mounted troops were absent on a raid ; and 
part had been assigned to other portions of his army. Cavalry squads are the 
antennae of an army. Scattered along the line of advance, they are the feelers 
through which the body of the army perceives obstacles. 

About 10 o'clock, on the day before the battle, some Confederate infantry — 
Pettigrew's Brigade of Heth's Division — made their appearance near the 
Lutheran Theological Seminary in the western suburbs of the town and halted, 
their pickets advancing close to the residences along the outskirts. This 
brigade had been ordered to Gettysburg with instructions to search the town 
for army supplies, shoes especially, and return the same day. These troops did 
not enter the place, the officers contenting themselves with examining it through 
field glasses and conversing with such citizens as they could find. Learning 
that the advance guard of Meade's army was approaching, they withdrew 
towards Cashtown, leaving their pickets about four miles from Gettysburg. 

At II a. m., two brigades of Buford's Division of Union cavalry entered the 
town. The citizens, already in a state of excitement and terror over the great 
invasion, gazed with interest and satisfaction as the long column of veteran 
troopers, with trampling horses and fluttering guidons, moved through their 

7 



8 New York at Gettysburg. 

streets. It was the opening scene in the grand pageant which was to make 
the name of Gettysburg known throughout the world. 

Buford's column had left Emmitsburg that morning. Passing through the 
town it moved out upon the Chambersburg Pike, or Cashtown Road as some- 
times called, and halted there. Buford brought with him two brigades. Gam- 
ble's and Devin's, leaving the reserve brigade, Merritt's, at Mechanicsburg 
to guard his trains. Scouting parties were immediately sent out in various 
directions, and the information thus obtained throughout the night apprised 
Buford of the proximity of the enemy and the rapid convergence of their 
hostile columns on Gettysburg. Knowing that General Reynolds, who was 
in command of the left wing of the Union army, was in supporting distance 
with the First and Eleventh Corps, he decided to resist the Confederate 
advance. 

On the eve of the approaching battle it will be instructive to note the posi- 
tion of the two armies. Neither has been moving with closely connected col- 
umns. In each, the various corps or divisions are widely separated, and a 
concentration is yet to be effected. Lee's army is under orders to concentrate 
at Gettysburg. Meade has directed two of his corps to go there also as a cov- 
ering movement, but follows up his instructions the next morning with orders 
for a concentration on the line of Pipe Creek, fourteen miles south of Gettys- 
burg, in case the enemy assumes the offensive. 

On the evening of June 30th, the day before the battle opens, the three corps 
composing the Confederate Army are many miles apart. The First Corps, under 
General Longstreet, is resting at Chambersburg, where General Lee has his 
headquarters, twenty-four miles west of Gettysburg. The Second Corps, Gen- 
eral Ewell, returning from its advance on Carlisle, York, and the Susquehanna, 
is halted for the night near Heidlersburg, eleven miles north of Gettj'sburg, with 
one division, Johnson's, at Fayetteville, twenty-one miles west of Gettysburg. 
The Third Corps, General A. P. Hill, is extended along the Chambersburg Pike, 
with Heth's and Pender's divisions near Cashtown, seven miles west of Gettys- 
burg, and Anderson's Division at Fayetteville. Lee's right and left wings are 
twenty-eight miles apart. His cavalry is still more widely scattered. Three 
brigades, under General Stuart, have been absent on a raid, and are now making 
a wide detour around the right of the Union Army in order to rejoin Lee; three 
other brigades have been left near the Potomac to guard the rear; and the 
remaining brigade — Jenkins' — is with Ewell's Corps. There is no cavalry 
with Hill's column, the one which has the advance on Gettysburg. 

The seven corps of the Union Army also occupied positions covering a wide 
extent of territory. The First Corps, under General Reynolds, bivouacked 
along the road, leading from Emmitsburg, Md., to Gettysburg, with its advance 
division at Marsh Creek, five miles from the battlefield, and with one division at 
Emmitsburg. The Eleventh Corps, General Howard, was at Emmitsburg, 
ten miles south of Gettysburg. The Third Corps, General Sickles, lay at 
Bridgeport, on the road from Taneytown to Emmitsburg. The Fifth, Gen- 
eral Sykes, was at Union Mills, Md., seventeen miles southeast of Gettys- 
burg. The Twelfth, General Slocimi, bivouacked near Littlestown, Penn., 
eleven miles southeast of Gettysburg. The Sixth Corps, General Sedgwick, 



New York at Gettysburg. 9 

occupied Manchester, thirty miles southeast of the battlefield. The Second, 
General Hancock, was resting at Uniontown, Md., sixteen miles south of 
Gettysburg. The cavalry, General Pleasanton, was covering the right and 
rear of the army, with two brigades of Buford's Division, already at Gettys- 
burg. Kilpatrick's cavalry division was at Hanover, Penn., fourteen miles 
east of Gettysburg, where it had encountered, earlier in the day, a part of 
Stuart's cavalry. 

The right wing of the Union Army was at Manchester; the left wing was at 
Emmitsburg, over thirty miles distant. General Meade's headquarters were 
at Taneytown, ten miles south of Gettysburg. The left wing, composed of 
the First, Third and Eleventh Corps, was under command of General Rey- 
nolds. The Fifth and Twelfth Corps, of the right wing, were under Genera! 
Slocum. 

A signal ofiicer attached to Buford's Division states* that on the niglit of 
the 30th, General Buford spent some hours with Colonel Devin, of the Sixth 
New York Cavalry, who was in conmiand of the Second Brigade. While 
commenting on the information brought in by Devin's scouts, Buford re- 
marked that " the battle would be fought at that point," and " he was afraid 
that it would be commenced in the morning before the infantry would get up." 

Devin, who did not believe in so early an advance of the enemy, said that 
he would " take care of all that would attack his front during the ensuing 
twenty-four hours." Buford answered, " No, you won't. They will attack 
3'ou in the morning; and they will come 'booming' — skirmishers three deep. 
You will have to light like the devil to hold your own until supports arrive. 
The enemy must know the importance of this position, and will strain every 
nerve to secure it, and if we are able to hold it we will do well." It is interest- 
ing to note how accurately Buford's prediction was fulfilled on the morrow. 

In Gamble's Brigade there was a New York regiment, the Eighth Cavalry, 
under command of Lieut. Col. William L. Markell; in Devin's Brigade there 
were two New York regiments, — the Sixth Cavalry, Maj. William E. Beards- 
ley, and the Ninth Cavalry, Col. William Sackett. Thus it was that New York 
participated in the first operations on that field. 

During the night the brigade picket line, made up of details from each regi- 
ment in Devin's Brigade (Sixth New York, Ninth New York, Seventeenth 
Pennsylvania, and Third West Virginia), was pushed forward on the Chambers- 
burg Pike to Willoughby Run, from whence the line extended northerly and 
easterly across the Mummasburg, Carlisle, and Harrisburg Roads. The line 
was in charge of Colonel Sackett, Ninth New York, who was brigade officer 
of the day. At daylight the advanced picket post on the Chambersburg Pike 
was held by Corp. Alphonse Hodges, of Company F, Ninth New York Cav- 
alry, and three other cavalrymen. Men were seen approaching on the road, 
beyond Willoughby Run, and nearly a mile away. Acting under orders 
tlodges immediately sent his comrades to notify the line and the reserve, while 
he advanced across the Run till near enough to see that the approaching men 
belonged to the enemy; then he turned back, and as he did so they fired at 
him. Fie retired to the Run where, from behind the abutments of the bridge, 
he fired several shots at the enemy. This occurred about 5:30 a. m., and this 

* From Decisive Conflicts of the War; by J. Watts de Pcyster. Brev. Maj. Gen., N. G., 
S. N. Y. 



lO 



New Yokk at Gettysburg, 



exchange of shots between the Confederate videttes and a New York trooper 
are believed to be the first fired at Gettysburg.* 

In the skirmishing which ensued later in the morning Cyrus W. James, of 
Company G, Ninth New York Cavalry, was kihed, and he is said to have been 
the first Union soldier killed in the battle. 

Between 8 and 9 a. m., the pickets in front of Gamble's Brigade, gave notice 
that the infantry columns of the enemy, accompanied by artillery, were ap- 
proaching from the direction of Caslitown. The Confederate advance consisted 
of Archer's and Davis's Brigades, of Heth's Division, of A. P. Hill's Third 
Corps. No cavalry preceded them, for General Lee's mounted troops, as has 
been explained, v/ere on duty elsewhere or had become separated from his 
army, and he was thus deprived of their services at this critical time. Archer 
and Davis brought forward eight regiments in their two commands. Gamble 
confronted them with his small brigade, which he reported officially as 1,600 
strong. As his men fought dismounted their effective strength was still less, 
every fourth man holding the " led horses " in the rear. 

Unequal as their number? were, Buford's men marched out boldly and 
" proudly " to the position assigned them. Moving out beyond the Seminary 
about one mile, Gamble formed his brigade with its right resting on the line 
of an unfinished railroad and its left near the Fairfield Road, the Chambersburg 
Pike passing through his line a little to the right of the centre and at right 
angles with it. Devin, with the Second Brigade, formed to the right, his line 
extending from the railroad to the Mummasburg Road. 

The opening gun of the battle was fired by the Confederates, the shot coming 
from a cannon in Marye's Virginia Battery, posted on the Chambersburg Pike 
on the first ridge west of Willoughby Run. Calef 's Horse Battery — A, Second 
United States Artillery, — which was attached to Buford's Division, replied 
promptly from its position near the Chambersburg Pike, and the battle of 
Gettysburg began. The Confederate artillery answered the fire of Calef's Bat- 
tery with twelve guns, while Heth's infantry pressed Gamble's men with a 
strong skirmish line. The cavalrymen responded with a rapid carbine fire 
from behind the trees, rocks, and stone walls along their advantageous position 
on the ridge, their sturdy resistance giving Heth the impression that he had 
infantry before him, and causing him to advance slowly and cautiously. Buford, 
though hard pressed, held his own stoutly, knowing that reinforcements must 
soon arrive. 

The fight had raged fiercely for over an hour, when the signal officer in the 
belfry of the Seminary turning his anxious eyes towards the Emmitsburg Road, 
saw in the distance the corps flag of General Reynolds' troops, the First Corps. 
Buford, on receiving the welcome news, climbed hurriedly into the tower, and, 
looking through the telescope of the signal lieutenant, said, " Now, we can 
hold the place." Reynolds came galloping up with his staff, and, seeing Buford 
in the tower, cried out, " What's the matter, John? " '.' The devil's to pay," said 
Buford. f The two generals rode out to the field, encouraging by their presence 



* From a paper prepared for the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association, by 
Capt. Newel Cheney, Ninth New York Cavalry. 
t De Peyster. 



¥^~^^ 




New York at Getxyscurg. ii 

Gamble's hard-pressed men. Reynolds exposed himself boldly to the fire of 
tlie enemy despite Buford's entreaties to be more careful, to all of which Rey- 
nolds only laughed and moved nearer to the front. 

Having made a brief survey of the field Reynolds rode back to meet his corps 
and hurry the troops forward to Buford's relief. Instructing Wadswortli, 
whose division was in advance, to press forward with all speed, he sent an 
aide to order the two other divisions of the First Corps, which were some 
distance in the rear, to come on without delay. He sent word, also, to How- 
ard to bring up the Eleventh Corps from Emmitsburg, where it was resting. 

Before meeting the head of Wadsworth's column, Reynolds, glancing at 
Cemetery Hill, expressed the opinion that if he formed his troops there the 
town might be destroyed; and that he did not know whether there was time 
enough to get his troops into position on the other side of the town. When 
Wadsworth rode up Reynolds had a momentary consultation with himf as 
to whether the troops should go into Gettysburg or take a position in front 
of it. Reynolds decided that if they occupied the town the enemy might shell 
and destroy it, and that they had better form their lines outside. 

Marching to the sound of the cannon, Wadsworth's Division, of the First 
Corps, approaches the town; but, leaving the Emmitsburg Road at the Codori 
House for a shorter route to the scene of the conflict, the division, composed 
of Cutler's and Aleredith's brigades, moves across the fields. As the column 
comes in sight, — the first infantry on that field, — it is seen that the blue flag 
carried by the leading regiment bears the coat of arms of the Empire State. 
It is the Seventy-sixth New York, a gallant regiment worthy of the historic 
numerals that form its designation. 

The leading brigade, Cutler's, containing four New York regiments, is 
formed across the Chambersburg Pike, deploying under artillery fire, with the 
Seventy-sixth New York, Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania, and One hundred and 
forty-seventh New York along a ridge on the right of a deep cut in the rail- 
road, and at a right angle with it; the Fourteenth Brooklyn (Eighty-fourth New 
York Volunteers) and Ninety-fifth New York on the left. The first infantry 
volley, as is meet and proper on this field, rings out immediately from the 
rifles of the Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania. With an echoing crash the Seventy-sixth 
New York follows with its fire. Hall's Second Maine Battery relieves Calef's 
guns, and takes position on the right of the road. Meredith's " Iron " Brigade 
enters the McPherson woods, on Cutler's left and south of the Chambersburg 
Pike, being placed in position by General Doubleday, who is now in command 
of the First Corps, General Reynolds having been placed in command of the 
left wing of the Union army. Gamble's cavalry brigade having fallen back 
from its advanced position was now relieved. 

While leading forward the Nineteenth Indiana, of Meredith's Brigade, Gen- 
eral Reynolds receives a fatal wound and falls from his horse, expiring without 

t See Wadsworth's testimony before the Committee on the Conduct of the War. 



12 New York at Gettysburg. 

a word. By this most unfortunate event, which occurred about 10:15 a. m., 
General Doubleday succeeded to the command. To his able generalship in 
that trying- hour i« due much of the glory that the First Corps won on this 
bloody field. 

On the right, Davis' Brigade, composed of Mississippi and North Carolina 
troops, moving along the north side of the Chambersburg Pike, attacked the 
three regiments of Cutler's Brigade, which had gone into position tliere. The 
Seventy-sixth New York, which held the right, was outflanked by the more 
extended line of the enemy, but held its ground bravely, though suffering a 
terrible loss. In order to check the force — Fifty-fifth North Carolina — that 
was pressing their flank and theatening their rear, Major Grover, the comr 
mandant of the Seventy-sixth, ordered his five right companies to change front 
to rear, forming thus a line at a right angle to that of his left companies. He 
had just given the order when he fell mortally wounded, and Capt. John E. 
Cook succeeded to the command. General Wadsworth, seeing the perilous 
situation of Cutler's three regiments on the right of the railroad, ordered them 
withdrawn to a position in the woods on Seminary Ridge. The Seventy-sixth 
New York and Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania, although under a severe musketry 
fire, withdrew in good order and with well-closed ranks to the new position 
assigned them. But the One hundred and forty-seventh New York did not 
fall back as ordered. Lieutenant Colonel Miller, who was in command, was 
wounded in the head immediately after receiving the order, and failed to give 
the command to fall back. i\Iaj. George Harney, the next in command, held 
the regiment in its exposed position, unaware that an order had been given 
for the regiment to withdraw. In face of the musketry that was rapidly thinning 
its ranl<s the One hundred and fort^'-seventh held its ground manfully, until the 
enemy were in possession of the railroad cut on its left and the ground on its 
right. Just then Capt. T. E. Ellsworth, of VVadsworth's staff, rode out to the 
regiment, and finding Major Harney repeated the order to withdraw. The 
regiment then retreated, barely escaping capture. 

In this affair of Cutler's, lasting about half an hour, the Seventy-sixth New 
York lost 169, killed or wounded, out of 2^ officers and 348 men taken into 
action. Maj. Andrew J. Grover, Capt. Robert B. Everett, Capt. Robert Story, 
Lieut. Philip Keeler, and Lieut. Robert G. Noxon were killed, and thirteen 
otlier officers were wounded. Sergeant Hubbard, of the One hundred and 
forty-seventh New York, was in command of the provost guard of the brigade 
that morning. He formed the guard, consisting of eighteen men, on the right 
of the Seventy-sixth New York and fought there, losing twelve of his men. 
The One hundred and forty-seventh New York, by reason of its prolonged 
resistance, sustained a still greater loss, losing 207 in killed and wounded out 
of 380 present with the colors. Lieutenants Mace, Taylor, Van Dusen, 
Schenck, and McAssy lost their lives, while seven other officers were wounded. 
Color Sergeant Hinchcliff was shot through the heart, and fell on the colors. 
But the blood-stained flag was rescued by Sergeant Wybourn, who brought it 
off the field, though seriously wounded himself. 

While this fight was going on between Davis' Brigade and Cutler's three 
regiments, the two other regiments of Cutler's Brigade — the Fourteenth 



New York at Gettysburg. 



13 



Brooklyn and Ninety-fifth New York — which had been detached by order 
of General Reynolds, to support Hall's Batterj', remained on the left or south 
sfde of the Chambersburg Pike. They deployed, with the Ninety-fifth New 
York on the left. The two regiments, now detached from the rest of the brigade, 
were under command of Col. Edward B. Fowler, of the Fourteenth. They 
became engaged immediately with the enemy's skirmishers, posted in their 
front, and in the McPherson woods on the left. Assisted by the advance of 
t'^c Iron Brigade — Meredith's — they drove the opposing line back, but soon 
found that the enemy, having overpowered the rest of the brigade on the right 
of the railroad, was advancing. Some of Davis' Mississippians passed be- 
tween the right of the Fourteenth and the railroad cut, forcing Hall's Battery 
to retire with the temporary loss of one of its guns. Fowler immediately or- 
dered his two regiments to about face and march to the rear. His line marched 
thus until abreast of the Confederate advance, when he gave the order to change 
front forward, thus bringing his line at right angles with the former one. 
His two regiments were now formed parallel with and facing the Chambers- 
burg Pike, and the railroad to the north of it. The enemy, halting in his ad- 
vance, changed front also to meet this unexpected and threatening manoeuvre. 
In the meantime the Sixth Wisconsin, of Meredith's Brigade, had been placed 
in reserve near the Seminary. It was under command of Lieut. Col. Rufus R. 
Dawes. General Doubleday, seeing the retreat of Cutler's three regiments, 
ordered the Sixth Wisconsin forward to their assistance. Dawes filed to the 
right and rear, and then facing to the left came up at a double-quick in line 
with Fowler's two New York regiments. This new line opened fire on the 
enemy, who returned it with deadly effect, the Confederates having taken posses- 
sion of the railroad cut. Fowler and Dawes ordered their men over the turn- 
pike fence, and then gave the command to charge. When the line reached 
tTie cut some of the Confederates threw down their rifles as evidence of sur- 
render, while others, more desperate, continued to fire. But a detachment of 
the Sixth Wisconsin moved across the east end of the cut, from which position 
they could enfilade its entire length with their fire. The Confederates then 
surrendered. The troops thus captured, about 300 in number, belonged to 
Davis' Brigade. Most of them were from the Second Mississippi, Maj. John 
A. Blair, commander of the regiment, together with the colors, being captured 
with the rest. A large number of Davis' men, who were opposite Fowler's 
left, made their way out of the west end of the cut and thus escaped. By this 
daring and brilliant movement of Fowler and his New York men, the lost gun 
of Hall's Battery was recaptured. Col. George H. Biddle, of the Ninety-fifth 
New York, was wounded here, the command then devolving on Maj. Edward 
Pye. 

While Cutler's Brigade was making this gallant fight along both sides of 
the railroad grading, the Iron Brigade, under Meredith, was achieving honor 
and success farther to the left. Following Cutler closely on the field, it had 
been ordered by General Reynolds to seize and hold the McPherson woods on 
Fowler's left. 

Meredith's four regiments, advancing en echelon, relieved the cavalrymen of 
Gamble's Brigade, and entered the woods, where they encountered Archer's 



14 New York at Gettysburg. 

Brigade. Their spirited attack forced Archer's Hne back and across Willoughby 
Run, the Union troops occupying the ground on the farther side. In this 
successful advance the Iron Brigade suffered terribly in men and officers, but 
at the same time inflicted a severe loss on the enemy. Several hundred prisoners 
were captured, including General Archer himself. Doubleday soon ordered 
Meredith to withdraw his brigade to the east side of the stream, and form 
line in the woods from which he had driven the enemy. In the meanwhile 
such of Davis' men as had escaped capture retreated from the field, ".r-^l 
Cutler's troops advanced to their old position. 

It was now about 1 1 o'clock. The fighting ceased, and for three hours there 
was a lull in the conflict. This opening contest between the infantry of Wads- 
worth and Heth formed a distinct, separate period in the battle of the first day. 
The fighting thus far, aside from that of Buford's Cavalry, was between Cutler's 
and Meredith's brigades on the one side, and Davis' and Archer's on the 
other. The success of the Union troops in repelling this opening attack made 
Heth cautious, and he occupied the ensuing interval in bringing up his two 
other brigades, Pettigrew's and Brockenbrough's. 

During the two hours or more succeeding the repulse of Heth there was 
no infantry fighting. Each side was preparing for a renewal of the contest, 
Doubleday and his men disdaining to avail themselves of this opportunity to 
effect a safe and honorable retreat. The skirmishers exchanged shots, and at 
times there was a heavy artillery fire, principally from the Confederate batteries. 
But during this cessation in the battle important movements were being made. 

Gen. A. P. Hill, commanding the Confederate Third Corps, placed Heth's 
Division again in the advance. Pender's Division was placed in support of 
Heth. Hill's remaining division — R. H. Anderson's — did not arrive on the 
field in time to participate in the fighting of the first day. At the same time, on 
Hill's left, the advance of Ewell's Second Corps could be seen coming from 
tlie north to his support, Rodes' Division on the Carlisle, and Early's on the 
Heidlersburg roads. Ewell's remaining division — Johnson's — was several 
miles away, and did not reach the field until night, having marched twenty-five 
miles that day. 

Ewell, whose troops were at Carlisle and York the day before, had received 
orders to concentrate at Cashtown, but being notified that Hill was marching 
towards Gettysburg he turned his columns in that direction also. 

On the Union side, in the meanwhile, the two other divisions of the First 
Corps — Robinson's and Rowley's — came up, arriving on the field about 12 
o'clock. As Robinson's troops came on the ground, one of his brigades — 
Baxter's — made a short halt at the Seminary, and then moved to the front, 
where it went into position on Seminary Ridge, with its right resting on the 
Mummasburg Road. Baxter's left connected with Wadsworth's Division. 
Robinson's other brigade, under command of Gen. Gabriel R. Paul, was 
placed in reserve at the Seminary, where it threw up a line of intrenchments, 
by General Doubleday's order, to aid in holding that point in case the line was 
driven back. These works were of slight construction, but Doubleday's pre- 
caution proved a wise one in the course of subsequeht events. 



New York at Gettysburg. 15. 

Rowley's Division was divided. One brigade, under command of Col. Roy 
Stone, was placed on Meredith's right, occupying the open fields on the ridge 
at the McPherson House, its line extending to the Chambersburg Pike. The 
other brigade — Col. Chapman Biddle's — was posted on the left and rear of the 
Iron Brigade. 

The Eleventh Corps, marching by the Emmitsburg and Taneytown roads, 
came through the town soon after this. These troops arrived on the field 
about 1 130 p. m.,* fatigued with a forced march of ten miles or more, made 
without a halt under a hot July sun, from where they were encamped that morn- 
ing near Emmitsburg. General Howard retained Steinwehr's Division and 
Wiedrich's New York Battery to hold and fortify Cemetery Hill, sending for- 
ward the two divisions of Schurz and Barlow to Doubleday's assistance. 
General Schurz was given the immediate command of the corps, Howard, by 
right of seniority, having assumed command of the entire field. General 
Schimmelfennig succeeded to the command of Schurz's Division. 

Schurz pushed his skirmishers forward rapidly, intending to seize Oak Ridge 
and make connection with the right of the First Corps, thereby prolonging 
the line northerly along the ridge, part of which was already occupied by 
Robinson's Division of that corps. This would have been a strong position, 
provided the attack came from the west only. But before Schurz's troops 
could reach the ridge, this commanding position was occupied by the advance 
of Rodes' Division of Ewell's Corps, whose movement had hitherto been con- 
cealed by the woods. Carter's (Confederate) Artillery took a position on the 
ridge immediately, and opened a fire that enfiladed the entire line of the First 
Corps. 

Finding it impossible to form on Oak Ridge in prolongation of the line 
of the First Corps, Schurz was obliged to occupy the lower ground in the rear, 
and so his two divisions — Barlow's and Schimmelfennig's — deployed on the 
level fields and lowlands situated between Oak Ridge and Rock Creek. Instead 
of prolonging Doubleday's right, Schurz was forced to face the Eleventh Corps- 
to the north to meet Ewell's advance, his line thus forming a right angle to that 
of Doubleday's, but failing to connect with it closely. 

Schimmelfennig, who was nearest the First Corps, and whose troops arrived 
first, deployed his two brigades in double lines, his own brigade, under Colonel 
von Amsberg, forming his left, and Krzyzanowski's Brigade holding the right 
of his line. General Barlow's Division held the extreme right of the line of 
battle, occupying the ground between the Carlisle and Heidlersburg roads, his 
right brigade — Von Gilsa"s — reaching to Rock Creek. 

The troops that are to take part in the battle of the first day are all up now 
and in position. It is well to note here the comparative strength of the oppos- 
ing forces. The two Confederate corps of Hill and Ewellf confront respectively 



'The Forty-fifth New York, Schimmelfennig's Brigade, arrived in Gettysburg at 
11:15 a. m., by the town clock, and four companies of this regiment, under Capt. Francis. 
Irscli, were deployed as skirmishers, not long after, on the Mummasburg Road. Schurz's 
and Steinwehr's Divisions marched thirteen miles, having taken the circuitous route- 
by Horner's Mills. 

tin each of these two corps — Hill's and Ewell's— there was one division absent, not 
having arrived on the field at this time. 



i6 Kew York at Gettysburg. 

the two corps of Doubleday and Schurz. But in the Army of the Potomac 
the corps organization is smaller than that of the Army of Northern Virginia. 
Hill's two divisions which are present contain eight brigades or thirty-five 
regiments, while Doubleday's entire corps of six brigades contains only twenty- 
eight regiments.* The two divisions of Ewell's corps which are present con- 
tain eight brigades, f with thirty-six regiments, as opposed to Schurz's five 
brigades, with twenty-two regiments, including Coster's Brigade, of Steinwehr's 
Division, which was subsequently sent to Schurz's assistance. To the Union 
strength must be added the two small cavalry brigades of Buford. The Con- 
federates numbered about 27,300 infantry and artillery.J The Union troops 
opposing them numbered only 18,400, infantry, cavalry, and artillery.§ 

The Union line of battle forms a semi-circle. The First Corps is on the left 
of the Mummasburg Road, facing west and northwest; the Eleventh Corps 
is on the right of the road, and is faced north. 

It is now 2 o'clock, and the Confederates advance to the attack. The second 
contest of the day is about to commence. Rodes' Division, of Ewell's Corps, 
is the first to move, its advance being preceded by a heavy cannonade from 
Carter's Artillery, sixteen guns of which are posted on Oak Ridge, from where 
they enfilade Wadsworth's line. As Rodes' five brigades advance from the 
north their attack falls on the flank of the First Corps. Gen. A. P. Hill, seeing 
Ewell's troops engaged, gives the order for the divisions of Heth and Pender 
to advance. Closely succeeding these movements, Early's Division, of Ewell's 
Corps, from its position on the Confederate left, moves forward against the 
Eleventh Corps. The whole line becomes engaged, and the semi-circular lines 
of fire, over two miles long, mark the positions of the contending forces. Over 
45,000 troops are engaged in the deadly struggle for the possession of this field. 

Through woods and orchards, over meadows and through fields of waving 
grain, the veterans of Rodes' Division moved steadily along the ridge toward 
the right fiank of the First Corps. Cutler withdrew his brigade from its ad- 
vanced position and formed again on Seminaiy Ridge, with Baxter on his 
right. As Rodes advanced, his left flank became engaged first; but his right 

* There was one regiment on each side — nth Mississippi and 7th Indiana — absent 
with the trains. 

t Not including Smith's Brigade, of Early's Division, which was left on the York 
Road, and did not arrive on the field. 

t General Heth states, in the Southern Historical Society Papers, that his division 
at Gettysburg " numbered some seven thousand muskets." This would indicate that 
he carried about 7,688 officers and men into action. General Rodes reported officially 
the strength of his division as 8,052 officers and men. General Early, in the So. Hist. 
Soc. Papers, states that his three brigades reported on June 20th, 4,756 officers and men 
present for duty. There is no official statement of the strength of Pender's Division; 
its four brigades, in the aggregate, probably numbered about 6,000. In addition to the 
infantry the Confederates had 63 pieces of artillery in action during the first day's battle. 

§ General Doubleday, in his official report, states that the First Corps numbered 8,200 
at the beginning of the fight. Part of the Eleventh Corps was not on the field, one 
brigade and one battery having been left on Cemetery Hill. Colonel Gamble, of Bufcrd's 
Division, reports officially that his brigade was " about 1,600 strong." 




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OCT 9 1900 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
001 508 078 4 



